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Opinion: Marijuana legalization wrong path

Emily C. Donaldson
Published 12:05 a.m. ET Feb. 25, 2016

A man lights a joint at the first annual DOPE Cup, a cannabis competition in Portland, Oregon, on Oct. 4, 2015. As of Oct. 1, 2015 a limited amount of recreational marijuana became legal for all adults over the age of 21 to purchase in the state of Oregon.(Photo: Josh Edelson/AFP/Getty Images)

Why would we legalize recreational marijuana use in Vermont when we have more addicts than we can treat?

As a 22-year-old research assistant at Dartmouth College, I understand that decisions should be made with the best available information. But when it comes to legalizing recreational marijuana use, I fail to see any substantive evidence that suggests nonmedical use would be an asset worthy of our legislative time.

Evidence aside, I value our community. Far too many of us have stood at friends’ funerals, wondering how drugs could have derailed such ambitious, promising people. Legalizing any recreational drug shows blatant disregard for those we have lost to this epidemic. How many deaths can we mourn until we take steps to discourage drug use to reduce these tragedies? Marijuana use was the beginning of a long road that ended far too soon for many.

One might argue that opioids are a more serious issue than marijuana, but there is truth to the saying that “weed as a gateway drug,” even if it is overused and undervalued. Let’s move beyond middle school health class snickers at quipped sayings like “hugs not drugs.” That was before people we knew and their futures became unrecognizable, or their lives were cut short entirely.

Perhaps more concerning are those who lose their way slowly, as more thought and energy is dedicated to the drug. It is true that some people can smoke in moderation, and be brilliant despite it. But when brilliance is the exception, there is reason to take pause. Especially when some of my peers still believe that marijuana is non-addictive, and yet we all know people who can’t get through the day without it.

In researching this topic, I have come across many excuses to legalize. However, few are so weak as the falsely health-oriented argument that alcohol is “far worse.” The existence of one addictive, harmful substance fails to justify the legalization of another. Recent studies have shown that marijuana has more significant effects on a fetus than opioid and methamphetamine use, and is second only to alcohol for stunting growth and neurological development. There are no studies that suggest marijuana use benefits otherwise healthy adults.

Other proponents of legalization have argued economic incentives, citing the “millions of dollars” in tax revenue other states have made. However, if our goal is profit, then why not also benefit from prostitution, child labor and unmanaged resource extraction? How much of Vermont’s identity are we willing to risk and at what price? Senate bill 95 and 241 would benefit large corporations and cut out small producers entirely, allowing plants for personal use up to an ounce. This isn’t creating new markets for farmers, and instead only paving the way for the tobacco industry to further exploit addiction. There are few economic “benefits” for small communities.

I agree that overall, America’s judicial system needs to change the way it handles possession charges. People who are caught can be held accountable without long prison terms or crippling fines. However, condoning further drug use in the legal sphere in Vermont, where we have lost so many to addiction already, is a risk I am not able to support. Recreational use will not benefit Vermonters, nor abate the addiction problems we are already overwhelmed with.